Attachable electric switch for connecter plugs



ATTACHABLE ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR CONNECTERPLUGS Aug. 26, 1924. 1,506,681 l T. C. SMl' ATTAGHABLE ELECTRIC' vswr'rcu FOR CONNECTER PLUGS man Jan. 19. 192s "2 shun-sneu 2 INV- HJVTO v Patented Aug. 26, 1924.`

UNITED STATES 1,506,681 .PATENT orsi-cli.

THEODOBE SMITH.l 0F PHILADELIHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ATTACHALE ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR vCOI\T1\'I'ECJ.EIR PLUGS.

Application led January 19, 1928 Serial No. 613,611.

To all whom it may cof/wem y Be it known that I, THEonoRn C. SM1-TH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia 5 and State ot' Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Attachable Electric Switches for Connecter Plugs, `of

which the following is a specification.

My ,invention relates to attachable electric v switches for connecter plugs, and has for its primary object the provision of such a switch which will tit universally the connecter plugs made by di'erent manufacturers.

lt is to be understood that the connecter ie plug referred to is a plug usually having two contact clips that fit on the terminals oi the electrical appliances, such as sad irons, toasters and the like, and is one of the elements of the customary cord which also includes the flexible feed wires and an attach- /ment plug, the latter being used to make connection with the service lines through the usual socket or receptacle.

l-leretotore the methods employed for 26 making and breaking the electrical connections with the appliances consisted of the following i. The use of a connecter plug usually having two enclosed spring grip contacts for 30 detachable connection with the appliance terminals. y

2. rifhe use oit a switch on the wires attached to the connecter plug above menvtioned and positioned some distance beyond the plug.

3. The use ci a switch within the connec-l ter plug,

ll. The use of a cord permanently attached to the appliance and depending upon 4@ the detachable attachment plug or socket or mail switch ior opening and closing the circuit.

`7`Where a detachable connecter plug is used such plug becomes so hot after a short period or use that it is uncomfortable to handle and the operations necessar to attach or detach the plug are so slow t at the resultant arc often burns out the contact clips and terminels.

a switch is used on the wires of the cord it is in an inconvenient position and adds a drag to the cord thus preventing the free operation of an iron.

Having the switch wi hin the connecter 5% ing, the switch mechanism or contacts belug should any part or the housing or cas-- come damaged or disarranged it usually is necessary that the entire -switch connecter plug be replaced by a complete new one.

Where a cord ermanently fixed to the appliance is used 1t is exceedingly inconvenient to detach or re lace the attachment plug each time the circult is to be broken or completed and if the wall or socket switch is utilized considerable time and eiort is lost. if Among other features the invention comprehends overcoming the disadvantages above enumerated by roviding av switch which is attachable to t e connecter plug in such a position as to be readily accessible by the operator, thereby saving time and effort and making it unnecessary to remove either the connecter plug or attachment plug. Such an arrangement also overcomes the necessity of discarding the switch mechanism when the connecter plug is damaged or vice versa.

l aim to provide a switch, comprising principally a housing or casing and a switch mechanism, in connection with a connecter plug so arranged as to be practically a unitary structure while permitting the separation of the switch from. the plug `for purposes of repair or replacement.

Another object of the invention containv nlates the provision of means to indicate 'when the electric current is on and oit.

further object of the` invention is to provide attaching means of unique construe: tion whereby the casing withvits eenclosed mechanism may be readily and quicirly removed or replaced. A o

still further object oil the invention is the provision ot a switch oi the character set torthwhich will tit universally the fienible cord supporting springs ot ditierent configurations produced by various manufacturers. u

With these ends in viewgthis invention consists in the details oit construction and combination oi elements hereinaiter set forth and then speciiically designated by tno claims.

ln order that those skilled in the art to which this -invention. 'appertains may un t derstand how to maize and use t ie same, i will describe its construction in detail, re-

erring by numerals to the accoinpanyingv operating ring broken away and showing the switch attached to one of the body sections or members the other body member having been dispensed with for purposes of illustration. j

Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch embodied in my invention.

Fig. 3, is an inner end view thereof. p

Fig. 4 is a section at -the line 4 4 of Fi l.

Fig. 5, is an end View opposite to Fig. 4 of the switch panel.

Fig. 6, is a section of the switch panel and 1ts component parts at the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7, is a section at the line 7 7 of Fig.

Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that Fig. 1 shows one of two similar body members of insulating material 10 which when secured together by suitable means complete the connecter plug body. In the particular embodiment illustrated the interior of the plug body is divided into spring clip receiving chambers 11 and. 12 which clips (not shown) confront the openings 13 and 14 through which pass the terminals of the electrical appliance and these chambers communicate with an arcuate or circular groove 15 from which leads `an opening 16 of smaller diameter than the groove 15 so yas to form a shoulder 17.

The reference numeral 18 represents the switch housing or casing including a body 19 preferably tubular in cross' section consisting of side walls 20, a bottom end wall 21 having an opening 22 therethrough preferably surrounded by a flange 23 which also preferably projects outward, as shown. A tubular coupling member 24 open at both ends (projects through the hole 22 and has threa ed connection with the body 19 so that said coupling member may be threaded in and out. At the outer end of this coupling member is an. outwardly prof jecting .circular ange 25 knurled or rough-- ened on one or both of its faces as indicated at 26 `and plainly shown in Fig. 3.

With the bod 18 ooacts a cap or other member 27 which also is referably tubular 1n cross section and is a apted for detach-` able connection to the body member 18 and for convenience of illustration means for connecting these two members is here shown as threads 28 but any equivalent means may be substituted, as for instance the bayonet joint. This other member or cap 27 consists of side walls 29 and a top or end wall 30 having a hole 31 therein through which projects one end of the su porting spring 32 carrying the ordinary errule 33 at its outer free end. v v

The supporting sprin being of spiral formation maybe attac ed to the' switch to fit universally the springsproduc'ed by the various manufacturers.

From the foregoing vdescription it will be seen that by screwing the coupling member 24 outward to space the flange 25 thereof some distance from the end or bottom wall 21 of the body 19 the flange 25 can then be inserted in the groove 15 of one of the plug body members 10 and the other plug body member then superimposed thereon thus entirely enclosing the flange 25. Then by grasping the body member 19 and the connecter plug body in such way as to tend to pull them apart the knurled or roughened surface of the flange 25 `will grip the shoulder 17 of the plug body or engage it with suiicient friction to prevent rotation of the coupling member 24 during rotation of the casing 19, such rotation screwing said casing body onto the coupling member until the bottom or end wall 21 engages the exterior surface of the end of the plug body thereby securely attaching the casing to the connecter plug.

1n the particular form of switch herein illustrated-a panelv 34 of suitable insulating material is utilized and referably has a reduced ortion to snugly t within the casing bod 19 and be properly positioned by contact of the shoulder 35 with the edge of said casing body. In thepanel 34 are mounted a pair of switch terminalsv 36 and 37 each having a head 38 projecting from one or the inner face of said panel while the other end is swedged in any suitable manner, as for instance, like a rivet to form a secondary head 39 to prevent accidental displacement of the terminals. The second- -ary heads of these switch terminals are` located within recesses 40 formed in the other face of the panel 34 and adapted to lie within the recesses 40, one of said screws as 41 being used for connecting one of the 'flcX- ible lead in or service wires (not shown) to the switch mechanism while the other screw as 42 is used for connecting another wire (not shown) to the switch mechanism and thisl wire passes througha notch 43 in tho panel and then through the connecting memfl yber 24 into the plug body where it is attached to one of the spring clips (notshown) as for instance the one withm the chamber 12. Another screw 44 is threaded into the panel but does not pass therethrough or coact with any contact member or conducting agent of the switch mechanism the samebel ing used for connectingthe other service or modaal lead in wire (not shown) to the switch as well as a wire which passes through the notch 45 in the anel and then through the connecting memlier 24 into the plug body where it is attached to the other spring clip (not shown) located within the chamber or coml artment 11.

e oscillating switch arm/i6 is mounted on a screw 47 threaded into the axial center of the panel 34 with a spacing member 48 between the arm and face of the panel to permitthe oscillating arm to actuate freely and at the same time properly contact with the terminal heads. To one end of this oscillating switch arm is fixed one end of the helical spring 49 the other end being fixed to an attaching member 50 of insulating material or insulated `from the switch casing in some suitable manner, said attaching member being carried by an operating ring 51 of insulating material which surrounds the switch :asing body the same being rotatably and slidably mounted on said body. y The attaching member 50 o crates within the inclined slot 151 in the casing body so that as the operating rin 51 is rotated it naturally slides longitudinally of the casing. The movement of the operating ring is such that the spring t9 may be moved across the center of the oscillating switch arm 46 when the latter is in either of it-s two positions and when in its inoperative position, as shown in Fig. s, its movement is limited by a stop 52 whereas when it is moved toward its operative position which would be at right angles to that shown in Fig. l its movement is arrested hy a stop 53.

The operating ring 51 having a sliding movement upon a switch casing it may be utilized Ias a means lor indicating the condition or" the switch, namely, whether in an operative or an inoperative position. rlhis may be done in a number of dierent ways but consists mainly in simultaneously covermg and uncovering portions ol the exterior surface ci the switch `casing and il these operations ol the exterior surface are provided with indication devices which will las covered and uncovered by the operating ring then the operator may readily ascertain whether or not the electric currentis on @ne method .ol accomplishing the alcove result is herein illustrated and consists in providing two dilerently colored zones or stripes 5l and 55 of such width that when the operating ring has been moved the "lull distance in one direction or the other one will indicate to the operator` that such is the case, but when the operatingring is moved to a position such as shown in Fig. 2 the green stripe 55 will be covered and the red stripe 54 will be visible thus indicating the current has been turned on.

From the foregoing description it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that l'have provided an exceedingly simple although strong and durable structure the parts of which are easily and quickly assembled. Further a switch of this character is readily attachable to connecter plugs of different make because the circular grooves 15 and the openings 16 of the dir"- erent connecter plugs are substantially the same and since the. diameter of the flange` I 23 may be the same yas the smallest hole in such plugs while any Variation in thickness ofthe end wall of the plug body is provided for by the adjustability of the connecting member 24. As herein'before stated the flange 25 of the connecting member 24 in conjunction with the bottom or end wall 21 of the casing body acts as the attaching medium' for the switch and connecter plug requiring no tools to attach or remove one to or from the other. y

As mentioned heretofore the switch is detachably connected with the connecter plug and therefore if anypart of said connectery connecter plu 0f course do not wish to he limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown as these may be varied within the limits of the `appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new and useful is 1. As an article of manufacture, a switch including a casing, a switch mechanism therein and a coupling member provided with a lia-nge and having threaded engagement with the casing whereby a portion of a connecter plug may be gripped between the casing and. said ange to detachably lasten the switch to the connecter plug.

2. The combination with a connecter plug including separable members forming a plug body having an'opening communicating withy a circular groove of larger dia-meter than the opening to produce a shoulder, of a switch casing contacting with said.

lli

connecter plug in the region oi" opening and means carried by the casing and adjustable relative thereto with a portion.'V l

positioned in the groove to grip the shouh der for detachably fastening the casing to the connecter plug. l

3. The combination with aconnecter plug including separable members for plug body having an opening communicating with a circular groove of a larger ldiameter than the opening to produce a shoulder, of a coupling member positioned in the circular groove of said plug body for coaction with the shoulder and having a portion projecting through the opening and acasing adjustably mounted on the projecting po-rtion of said member and adapted to contact with the plug body in the region of the opening to detachably fasten the casing to the connecter plug.

4. The combination with a connecter plug including separable members forming a plug body having an opening communicating with a circular grooveof a larger diameter than the opening to produce'a shoulder, of a coupling 'member to pass through the opening and` having a flange' at one end for insertion in the groove to coact with the shoulder and a casing having threaded connection with said member and adapted to coact with the connecter plug in the region of the opening for drawing the flange against the shoulder to detachably connect the casing to the' connecter plug.

5. The combination with a connecter plug including separable members forming a plug body having an opening communicating with a circlular groove of a larger diameter than the opening toproduce a shoulder, of

a tubular coupling member passingY through the opening in the plug body, a ange carried by said member and sitioned within the groove for coaction with the shoulder said flange having a knurled or roughened surface for frictional engagement with said shoulder, a casing body' having an end wall with a hole therethrough and open at the o posite end, a ilange surrounding saidcho e, said casing body having threaded en agement with the coupling member .and afapted to coact with the connecter plug to draw the iiangc against the shoulder for detachably the casing body tosaid connecter connectin I casing body having an inclined plug, sai

- slot, a ring 'slidably and rotatably mounted on the casing body and provided with means passing throu h the slot for connection with a switch mec anism adapted to be housed in the casing body, a cap-having threaded vengagement with thecasing body, said cap havmg an opening in its end wall and a 4supporting spring passing through the opening in the cap and supported by said cap.

6. Ina switch, the combination of a casing, a switch mechanism therein, two parallel differently colored stripes encircling said casing and a ring for actuating the switch mechanism, said ring being rotatably `and slidably mounted on the casing and movable over said stripes for simultaneously uncovering one and uncovering the other of said stri es to indicate when the current is on and o 7. Anv electric switch having means for attaching externally to a connecter plug, said means using'thecoil spring retaining socket of the connecter plug as a retaining socket for the switch.

8. In a device 'of the class mentioned, a switch, and means to vdetachabl'y fasten said switch to a connecter plug whichlatter includes a body and contact clips enclosed in said body for coaction with the terminals of electrical appliances.

9. The combination with a connecter plug includin a bod and a pair of contact clips therein or registration with a pair of terminals, of a switch casing, and means carried thereby for detachably connecting said casing to the connecter plu 10.v In a device of the c aracter stated, an electric switch, and means to universally attach it to different connecterl plugs which Vseparable members constituting albody-and contact clips housed by said body for coaction with the terminals onthe translatin device, of a switch comprising a caslng an a circuit making and breaking-mechanism, and means to tem rarily fasten the switch to the connecter ug. In testimony W ereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

. l y THEODORE C. SMITH. 

